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Monday, February 25, 2013

Spotlight On...Karim Muasher

Name: Karim Muasher

Hometown: Norfolk, Virginia

Education: BFA Acting, Ithaca College / MFA Lecoq Based Theater, London International School of Performing Arts

Favorite Credits: Definitely my role as Zombie in The Vindlevoss Family Circus Spectacular!Why theater?: As a child, I really loved watching TV. I was also very solitary (in other words, I had no friends). These two things gave me a lot of imagination, and so I think theater was a perfect fit.Tell us about The Vindlevoss Family Circus Spectacular: It's about a mustachioed professor (Penelope Vindlevoss) and her domesticated zombie (Edvard) putting on an entire circus by themselves. The circus is a test for whether Edvard has truly reformed and become human. It's got physical comedy, absurd characters, and a lot of heart. After being developed at different variety nights, it toured to fringe festivals, and now makes its NYC premiere in Frigid Festival. Tickets available at frigidnewyork.info

What inspired you to write The Vindlevoss Family Circus Spectacular?: My fiancee (Carrie Brown) and I met in graduate school. When we first moved to New York, we weren't sure if we wanted to make theater together. We created Penelope and Edvard for a cabaret, just to test the waters and see how we collaborated. They were such a hit, and we loved playing them so much, that we decided to make a full show.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I love theater that really makes use of the live experience. Anything with minimal sets and props, anything that breaks the fourth wall, anything that requires the audience to take an active part in the experience (whether through imagination or action). My work usually involves creating some kind of absurd or fantastical world. I'm always inspired by the people I see every day. The streets are full of characters that can be the seeds for something hilarious, tragic, poetic...If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I'd think it would be great to work with the writer-director-actor Gyda Arber. We first met when I performed at the Brick's Game play Festival, and now we're both a part of Graffiti, the Brick's writing group. We seem to be interested in similar types of theater, and have a mutual appreciation of each other's writing.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: I don't really see a lot of theater. I love the American Museum of Natural History, and would consistently recommend that to friends.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: The amazing local indie theater actor Timothy McCown Reynolds. It would be called "Karim."

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: I don't think I have any guilty pleasures. I love baking bread and playing video games, but have absolutely no guilt about them.

If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: A teacher, maybe. Or a visual artist. It would be really cool to have a rock band.What’s up next?: After our Frigid Festival run, we go on tour this summer with our new two person show: Petunia And Chicken. It's a prairie love story that occurs in a Willa Cather inspired world of cornfields and Czech accents.